Yes, week three. I know it’s been about a month and a half, but I gave myself some do-overs on weeks one and two. (Apparently, I’m actually in need of a Coma to 5K program, which allows a slower start.)

Anyway, it’s a good thing I did. Because today was the first day of week three, and I did it all! Here’s how it broke down:

5-minute warm-up walk

90-second run

90-second walk

3-minute run

3 minute walk

90-second run

90-second walk

3-minute run

5-minute cool-down walk

I was scared of those three-minute runs, but as each one started I just looked at my watch, counted up three minutes and chanted that number in my head as I ran. … 7:20:12 … 7:20:12 … 7:20:12 … I willed myself not to look at my watch until I was pretty sure that number was coming up. Each time I was just a few seconds away. Whew!

It helps that it’s nice and cool out this morning. I really should have started this whole thing in the fall. I had no idea what a difference 10 degrees could make on a morning run.

Today was so much better! I got very discouraged during last week’s heatwave, when I felt like I could hardly walk, let alone run. Today it was nice and cool out, with a little breeze, and I did all the running parts without skipping any.

I couldn’t run a 5K right now without some walking, but I’m definitely making progress!

At Barnes & Noble last week, this book on the sale rack caught my eye:

Mezze are like the Middle Eastern version of tapas, kind of like appetizers. They’re small dishes of various things — not enough for a meal, so you make several of them for the table to share and sample.

The first thing I made was a serving of Aton Al Boraq. Or, as Patrick and I have decided to call them, Dirka Dirka Rolls.

These were super-easy, once I figured out how to handle the unwieldy phyllo dough. The filling was just a mix of canned tuna, a chopped hard boiled egg and olives, with some dill and tomato paste. It was so good!

I also made swordfish kabobs (shown on the cover of the book up there), which were decent but not memorable. Tomorrow I’m going to attempt an old favorite: Baba Ghanouj! It’s a lot like hummus, but made with eggplant instead of chickpeas.

Last weekend, Patrick and I went to a local herb farm. We didn’t get any new herbs, but we learned a lot about what we can do with the mint, lemon balm and sweet Thai basil growing out back. We also got some instructions on making rose jam, but I’m not ambitious enough to try that yet. I know where to find it if I need some!

Patrick decided now is the time to become a Porsche owner. Last weekend, he bought himself a (correct me in the comments if I’m wrong, baby) 1989 Porsche 944 S2.

I have to say, when he drove up to the house after buying it, I started to “get” the whole Porsche thing. It’s very sporty and cute! The A/C needs some work, though. It’s hotter than the hinges of Hades right now, and downright stifling when you’re sitting against black leather.